Jim Bates

Jim Bates

Date of Birth	May 31, 1946 (1946-05-31) (age 63)
Birthplace	Pontiac, Michigan
Current Team	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Previous Team	Denver Broncos
Years as a Coach	37
Years as an NFL coach	14
Win-Loss Ratio	7-8

Jim Bates is an American football coach for the National Football League serving as Defensive Coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He primarily runs a 4-3 scheme, using fast, undersized linebackers.^[1] Bates served as interim head coach for the Miami Dolphins during the 2004 NFL season.

1991-2004

Bates began his coaching career in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns as their defensive line coach in 1991. He then moved on to the Atlanta Falcons to serve as defensive coordinator in 1994, his first time at this position. It would only last one year, however, and Bates returned to the Browns to coach their secondary in 1995.

In 1996, Bates was hired by the Dallas Cowboys as their linebackers coach. He was promoted to assistant coach/defensive line in 1998.

In 2000, the Miami Dolphins hired him as their defensive coordinator.^[2]

2004-2005

His first head coaching job in the NFL came in 2004 when he was named interim head coach for the Miami Dolphins following the resignation of Dave Wannstedt. He went 3-4 (including a victory over the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots) with the underachieving Dolphins. When new head coach Nick Saban took over the team, it soon became clear that Bates was not part of his plans, and Bates took over the defensive coordinator job with the Green Bay Packers.

2006

When Mike Sherman was fired by Packers General Manager Ted Thompson on January 2, 2006, Bates was offered the opportunity to interview for the head position. He interviewed on January 10 but was informed the next day the organization would be hiring San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy instead.

Bates took the news very hard. McCarthy met with him on January 15 in hopes of convincing him to stay with the organization. However, after two meetings between McCarthy and Bates, the team announced on January 16 that they would be parting ways.

Bates did not take another coaching job in the NFL in 2006.

2007

In early January 2007, Bates was signed on by the Denver Broncos to replace Larry Coyer as the defensive coordinator. However, Defensive Backs coach Bob Slowik was promoted to the defensive coordinator position (nominal), and Bates was named "Assistant Head Coach/Defense." In the 2007 season, the Broncos defense went from 9th ranked in the league in scoring in 2006 to 29th in 2007 as of week 13. On January 8th, 2008 Bates announced he was leaving the Denver Broncos. ^[3]

2009

On January 22nd, 2009 he was announced as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Coordinator, working with new head coach Raheem Morris.^[4]

Scheme

Bates' defensive scheme uses the defensive tackles to plug the middle, with the defensive ends pressuring the quarterback. Special emphasis is on the linebackers, as short, speedy LB's are especially fitted for this format. Linebacker Zach Thomas and defensive end Jason Taylor are among the players Bates developed in Miami. Bates is well-liked among players for being a fiery, energetic, demanding, yet fair and hands-on coach.

Personal

A graduate of the University of Tennessee, he now lives in Oneida, Wisconsin. His son, Jeremy, is the quarterbacks coach for the USC Trojans. James, his oldest son, played linebacker for the 1996 national champion University of Florida Gators.

References